Freshwater Pearl Lariat and Earring Set

I revisited a classic design in the warm, rich colors of fall in a set that I designed to donate to a fundraiser for the local library. Freshwater pearls and sterling silver were used to create this timelessly beautiful set.


Each pearl is attached to the necklace on a hand-hammered paddle. The pearls are arranged such so that they twist gracefully up the chain, so that they dangle gracefully on the wearer.


The heart of the earring is a cultivated freshwater pearl. They are created from the clay disc in the shape of the heart, which is inserted into the oyster. The nacre forms around the disc, so that the natural pearl has a unique shape.

Some lucky bidder walked away with a great set that evening!

Freshwater Pearl Earrings and Simple Necklace Set

I have had these unique freshwater pearls that I picked up quite some time ago and I decided to create something with them. I am attracted to their evanescent glow and completely organic shape. I riffed on the the DaVinci series by wiring the pearls inside of the vessel-horseshoe shape. I kept the detail simple, but textural by fringing the earrings with multiple simple sterling drops. All of the sterling components had to be pre-oxidized so that the pearls did not risk being pitted or discolored in some way.


After I completed the earrings, I wanted a simple matching necklace. At first I thought that I was going to create the piece by pairing the large freshwater pearl with pale green freshwater pearl beads. But in the end, I simply wired the pearl utilizing fat wraps to a simple sterling chain that echoed the detailing of the earrings. I don't do dainty often, but I had seen a simple pearl necklace on a girl one evening and I was inspired. The pearl lends itself to this design, and is complemented so well by the deep patina of the antiqued sterling.


So this is the set. The necklace hangs just below the hollow of my throat and the earrings have great summer presence.

Now I have been utilizing the earring design paired with gemstone briolettes to create necklaces for the next series of work that is evolving.

Peacock Pearls

I bought a pair of peacock pearl earrings from Angi Caldwell at her last trunk show. I know - I need another pair of earrings like a hole in the head, but I liked the design and they were very well priced. So finally during Spring Break, I had the time to make a necklace that would go with the earrings. I dipped into my stash of pearls and had some that coordinated perfectly with the fabulous large teardrop earrings.

The first thing that I did was that I oxidized the sterling wire and nuggets that I would be using, and also oxidized the silver on the earrings. This needed to be done first for this project because liver of sulfur can sometimes pit pearls.

While I initially designed the project with the idea it would simply riff on the classic strand of pearls, as I progressed through the project, I realized that would be too boring. So I selected an abalone dagger for the focal point. I have used this component in other designs. Overall, I am very attracted to the look and feel of these pieces.

The necklace is 17 1/2" long, which allows it to hang just below the hollow of my throat. After constructing the necklace, I polished it out and the soft gray metallic glow really complements the dark tones of the pearls.

Perfectly pearly!

Modifying a custom bracelet to make it longer

This is a multi-strand bracelet fashioned out of sterling silver. Amethyst, lapis, rough sapphire, Tibetan quartz crystals, freshwater pearls, abalone and sterling pieces make up the "charms" of the bracelet.

This bracelet was commissioned by my brother for his girlfriend. He gave me a budget and then let me design the piece according to what I already know about her style.

It didn't take long at all for the design of the piece to come together. I knew right away that I would be working with deep blue and purple hues. She has blue eyes that seem to verge on indigo to me. She favors deep hues in her dress.

There is a very oceanic quality to the piece, deep inky water under a waning moon.

When she got the bracelet, it turned out that it was not quite long enough. A charm bracelet needs to have a little space and movement on the wrist. And Amber is a little bigger boned than I. So I had to make it longer in such a way that it would be integrated into the design of the bracelet without looking "added onto". This is the piece as it was originally designed:


I decided to to lengthen it with the same materials out of which the dangles of the bracelet had been made. The pearl had to be drilled to make the hole bigger to accommodate the 22 gauge wire. Then I put the nice Tibetan quartz crystal on the other side. Then so that the links transition well with the rest of the design of the bracelet, I added the respective rough sapphire and amethyst dangles at each side.